(Crossville, TN)
Jerry Nash, Scholastic Director for the United States Chess Federation (USCF), announced that registrations for the upcoming SuperNationals IV Scholastic Chess Championships had passed 5,000 students from 45 states across the country. The tournament is being held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, Tennessee, April 3-5, 2009.

Special guests during the event include the legendary former World Chess Champion, Garry Kasparov, who has recently drawn worldwide attention for his political activity in Russia. In addition, Grandmaster Alexandra Kosteniuk, the current World Women’s Chess Champion, will play a simultaneous exhibition and encourage students to develop the skills which will help them to achieve success in every area of life.

The Opening Ceremonies will begin at 11 AM on Friday, April 3rd, at the Grand Ole Opry House. Featured guests will include Curt Eley, Vice President at the University of Texas at Dallas, Greg Chamitoff, NASA astronaut who recently ended a tour on the space station, and keynote speaker Garry Kasparov. Seating for the 4300+ seat auditorium will be on a first-come basis and will begin at 10 AM on the 3rd. The first of the tournament’s seven rounds then begins at 1 PM with Garry Kasparov making the first move on Board One in the High School section.

The national competition is the culmination of a year’s programming which motivates students from diverse ethnic and economic backgrounds to learn a game which teaches the skills which are at the heart of the education community’s vision. This is the motivation for teachers and parents alike to devote time and resources to involve students in chess. The more than 10,000 persons – including students, families, teachers, coaches, and vendors/exhibitors - attending the 2009 SuperNationals represent the hundreds of thousands of students who are involved in scholastic chess programs across the country.

After the Opening Ceremonies, Curt Eley, and Greg Chamitoff will meet members of the press in the Delta Ballroom of the Gaylord Opryland Resort from 12:15 – 12:45, prior to the start of Round 1. Greg Chamitoff will give a presentation Friday at 3 PM in Bayou AB about living and working on the International Space Station during his 6-month mission. To schedule interviews with Garry Kasparov, please contact Michael Khodarkovsky at 201-317-8581. Media packets and press passes may be picked up at Chess Control at the Delta Registration Desk at the Gaylord Opryland Resort.